This spring, North Eugene High School completes its first year as three small schools: the School of Ideas, the Academy of Arts, and the International High School. The conversion was funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which has supported high school redesign across our nation.

Kay Graham, principal of the School of Ideas, and Gus Martinez-Padilla, principal of the Academy of Arts, will discuss the reasons North made the decision to convert to smaller schools and give a brief overview of each school. They will also address what they have learned over the course of the year and some of the challenges they have faced in making the conversion and meeting the expectations of the grant.

Ian Barbosa, a 10th grade student in the Academy of Arts, and Brittney Benson, a 10th grade student in IDEAS, will share their experiences as students in the smaller schools.

Our first question will be asked by Merri Steele, Co-President of Eugene Education Association.